LLMD thinks Clindamycin may be in my future (in a few months..I have time.)
I know this abx is the #1 offender for causing C-Diff. I'd like to avoid it (C-Diff, that is)!!
Any suggestions on the best way to do that? I know...Florastore is one option.
Other suggestions? What have been people's experiences with Clindamycin? (for Babs)
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i've had c.diff also. all i can say is plenty of probiotics, at least 100 billion or even more.
and diet ...especially diet. no sugar at all...
never took clinda tho.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Maintain a good diet and YES, the Florastor. I think you are already taking plenty of probiotics.
I took Clindamycin off and on for about two years and DID NOT KNOW that it was bad for causing c.diff. I also had no clue how BAD c.diff was!!!
SOMEHOW I escaped the c.diff!!!
So, your chances are good .. just watch the diet and do everything you can to avoid it.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Which abxs are higher risk at causing C Diff?
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I took oral clindamycin for 5 years and never had C-diff. I took probiotics off and on.
I got C-diff once, I think from erythromycin, which I was taking for an ear infection, and had to do the whole ER thing.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i got mine from biaxin and flagyl...
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
I took it and never had any problems with C. Diff. I was probably just lucky because I didn't take any of the better brands of probiotics. I take Renew Life 50 billion and separate S. Boulardii.
Posted by Maryland Mom (Member # 2043) on :
Pseudomembranous colitis is the name for the inflammatory bowel condition that overgrowth of C. difficile causes.
C. diff is a naturally occurring organism in our gut, and it is only problematic if a proliferation of overgrowth occurs as a result of the loss of too much of the "good" bacteria. Thus, anything we do to help keep our normal gut flora in balance is helpful in staving off C diff overgrowth and the resultant pseudomembranous colitis.
Clindamycin is the antibiotic most often associated with colitis caused by C diff. I know of some people who have taken diflucan for 30 days prior to starting clindy to lower the risk of developing colitis. Adherence to a candida diet and lots of probiotics are very helpful.
Canefan, to answer your question, clindamycin carries the highest risk Other antibiotics that also increase risk of developing colitis include:
The beta-lactam antibiotics: this includes all the penicillins and abx chemically similar to them.
Also all the cephalosporins, all four generations. You can usually recognize the cephalosporins by looking at their generic names: all begin with "cef." One example is ceftriaxone. It is a third generation cephalosporin, more commonly known by its brand name, Rocephin.
Having a history of previous bouts of pseudomembranous colitis during antibiotic therapy also increases your risk of developing this condition again.
If colitis does develop, first-line treatment is Flagyl. I know many (most?) people on antibiotic treatment for Lyme routinely add Flagyl, often as a pulse therapy.
I wonder, is there anyone whose doctor has discussed with them pulsing with Flagyl to lower the risk of C diff overgrowth? In addition to its role as a Bb cyst-buster, maybe its use could also be prophylactic--through prevention of colitis caused by C diff?
Any thoughts?
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Thanks
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
I have taken Clindamycin for a long time. I use VSL #3 Double-Strength packets and Nystatin tablets daily. I have never had any problems.
Clindamycin has been one of the best meds for me.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
Just be sure to take lots of florastor or sacchromyces boulardii.
I had C diff and to keep it away and be on abx at the same time here is what I have to do.
Before starting abx, I do a round of flagyl to kill any c diff that may be there. During the same time, I take 2 sacc boulardii caps twice daily 30 mins before my abx. If I was taking abx more often, I would take the sacc boulardii before those doses too.
If I do this, I have no c diff symptoms. If I veer from this at all, I get a relapse. It's a pain in the ass...literally and figuratively, but, I need the abx, so I do what works.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
I forgot to add that I can stop the flagyl after 2 weeks, as long as I'm on the sacc boulardii regimen consistantly.
Posted by rera2528 (Member # 29886) on :
I did 10 day alternating pulses of clindamycin and flagyl (with others in each pulse). I also doubled my probiotics AND was 100% sugar and yeast free. This meant watching all fruits, etc.
I tend to be about 95% sugar free other times (I eat more fruits and potatoes).
I am also 100% gluten free, all the time.
Posted by philly78 (Member # 31069) on :
Eat some cultured veggies with every meal and drink some kefir too. If you do that plus take probiotics I would think you would be good.